“What are the merits of restricting access to university when the Government has a target to get 50 per cent of 18- to 30-year-olds into higher education and unemployment is rising among the young? Discuss. Can’t answer the question? That’s because none of it makes sense. The target set ten years ago by former Prime Minister Tony Blair to get 50 per cent of young people into higher education by 2010 was designed to make the UK internationally competitive; many rivals have higher targets. How, then, does restricting the number of students universities take this summer fit this creed? Where is the logic when demand is up and there is a chance to rescue young people from the dole queue? …” (more)